OCTOBER -- Walden Farm, 8653 Rocky Fork Road in Smyrna, is now open through Halloween. Go on a hay ride, get your face painted, pick your own pumpkin, let the kids romp through Toddler Town, ride a pumpkin train, play on hay mountain and wander through a corn maze. Admission is free, although many of the activities have fees. The activity area is $4 per child and $1 for accompanying parent, with children 2 and younger admitted free. There's also plenty of handmade food and baked goods for sale. Visit waldenfarm.biz or call 615-220-2918 for hours and more details. HELEN COMER/DNJ file

Rutherford County was expected to see patchy frost and low temperatures near 38 degrees early today, National Weather Service meteorologist Bobby Boyd said.

The weather service issued a frost advisory to last until 8 a.m. today.

"I think the eastern parts of Middle Tennessee will have the coolest temperatures," he said.

Sensitive plants could be at risk of damage if left outside, meteorologists said.

The cold temperatures, however, are only a temporary warning for the weather that will eventually reach the area. After a projected high of 65 degrees, temperatures should only drop as low as the mid-40s for the rest of the week.

Boyd also said he doesn't expect a hard freeze in the Murfreesboro area for the rest of October. By the weekend, highs should return to the low 70s.

The mild temperatures are also leading state officials to warn residents about the potential fires that could come from starting to heat a home again. The state fire marshal's office said there were 654 heating-related fires in 2013.

"With colder temperatures come more opportunities for residential fires," says state Fire Marshal Gary West in a release. "We begin using heating sources that have been dormant for many months, and this can lead to fire safety issues. Prepare for the heating season early to reduce your family's risk of a home fire."

West's office asked state residents to keep flammable objects at least three feet from a heating source, to install smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and to have fireplaces and heating equipment professionally checked each year.

Contact Brian Wilson at 615-278-5165 or at bwilson@dnj.com. Follow him on Twitter @brianwilson17.